By Roger Lanse

On Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024, at about 8:11 a.m., a Grant County Sheriff's Office deputy was dispatched to 7 Chamisa Road, Mimbres, in reference to a shooting call. According to a GCSO offense report, when the deputy arrived, he met with the male victim who said that Paul Silas, later determined to be 59, of Faywood, drove into his driveway, got out of his truck, and accused the victim of stealing his motorcycle. When the victim denied having Sias's motorcycle, the victim said Sias pulled out a scoped rifle from his truck and shot into the ground between the victim's feet.

Checking the scene, the deputy discovered a "projectile crater" about 2.5" by 2.5" with a bullet in the crater. Nearby, a spent .270 cartridge case was found.

After the shooting, Sias left north on Highway 35, the victim stated. Although the deputy travelled north on Highway 35 searching for the older model tan Chevrolet pickup Sias was supposed to be driving, no contact was made with either Sias or the vehicle.

The owner of the property, according to the report, stated to the deputy he heard a gunshot, and that he also has a motion-activated camera on his house. The owner gave the SD card from the camera to the deputy.

Later, the SD card showed Sias drive on the property and exit his tan Chevrolet truck. However, the camera timed out just before the shooting.

The Grant County Regional Dispatch Authority informed the deputy that Sias was a convicted felon, his latest felony conviction being March 22, 2023.

A warrant for Sias' arrest will be issued, the report said.